The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is investigating claims from another Boeing whistleblower who said the company overlooked safety concerns.
The whistleblower specifically discussed issues with the company’s 777 and 787 jets.
Sam Salehpour, a Boeing engineer, said there were production “shortcuts” that could cause problems mid-flight.
“It can cause a catastrophic failure,” he asserted.
During a press briefing, Salehpour said he “literally saw people jumping on the pieces of the airplane to get them to align. That’s not how you build a plane.”
Boeing spokeswoman Jessica Kowal said in a statement, “These claims about the structural integrity of the 787 are inaccurate and do not represent the comprehensive work Boeing has done to ensure the quality and long-term safety of the aircraft. We are fully confident in the 787 Dreamliner.”
Last month, a man actively involved in a whistleblower lawsuit against Boeing was found dead inside his vehicle from “self-inflicted” injuries.
John Barnett, who worked for Boeing for 32 years, came forward with concerns regarding oxygen masks and other issues.
According to Barnett, 25% of masks would not work in an emergency.
Barnett told the BBC that workers had been “deliberately fitting sub-standard parts to aircraft on the production line,” the outlet reported.
Amid an effort to get new aircraft built, the assembly process was rushed. “[I]n some cases, sub-standard parts had even been removed from scrap bins and fitted to planes that were being built to prevent delays on the production line,” BBC noted.
American Faith reported that Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has launched an investigation into Spirit Aerosystems, a large supplier to Boeing, after recurrent mishaps have occurred with airplane parts.
Paxton requested information about the company’s diversity, equity, and inclusion practices as part of the probe.
“The potential risks associated with certain airplane models are deeply concerning and potentially life-threatening to Texans,” Paxton said in a statement. “I will hold any company responsible if they fail to maintain the standards required by the law and will do everything in my power to ensure manufacturers take passenger safety seriously.”
